The Tampa Bay Buccaneers - many people's offseason sleeper contender pick - sit at 4-9 for reasons too numerous to list.
But the only issue that really matters for the Bucs moving forward is the fact Jameis Winston hasn't looked like a franchise quarterback for the majority of the campaign, despite working with the best supporting cast of his short career.
More importantly, it remains to be seen whether Winston's disappointing 2017 is more reflective of him or head coach Dirk Koetter.
Winston and Koetter's relationship is reportedly not in a good place, as the quarterback is frustrated with the offense's predictability and Koetter's game planning.
It's hard to disagree with the young pivot.
Tampa Bay is averaging a 22nd-ranked 20.2 points per game (almost two full points fewer than 2016) despite adding the likes of DeSean Jackson and rookie O.J. Howard to an offense that already boasted Mike Evans, Doug Martin, and Cameron Brate.
Koetter has often looked overwhelmed following his move from offensive coordinator to head coach, and the potential he and Winston showed when he was in that former role has since evaporated.
The coach was promoted because Tampa Bay thought he was the man to mold the uber-talented but often erratic Winston into the superstar many expected him to be when he was taken No. 1 overall in 2015. Instead, Koetter's failure will almost certainly cost the head coach his job after the end of the regular season.
At which point, the Bucs must focus on getting Winston back on track, because his lack of development is becoming a serious concern.
| Year | GS | Comp % | Yds | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 16 | 58.3 | 4042 | 22 | 15 | 84.2 |
| 2016 | 16 | 60.8 | 4090 | 28 | 18 | 86.1 |
| 2017 | 10 | 62.6 | 2475 | 14 | 8 | 89.7 |
It's easy to swoon at Winston when he makes a downfield throw most quarterbacks wouldn't even think about, let alone attempt. But his awful decision-making and inconsistency continue to cap his ceiling.
Winston is a lock to make a handful of bone-headed throws per game that makes you question whether he'll ever be a franchise player. In Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions, he was responsible for three turnovers, taking his career total to 53 in 42 games - an absurd number, even for a young signal-caller.
Tampa Bay will be crossing everything they have hoping Winston's struggles are mainly because of Koetter's ineptitude, but the Bucs can't just shove Koetter aside and move forward under the assumption Winston becoming a great player is only a matter of time.
Maybe all Winston needs is his version of Sean McVay; someone who can rein in his aggressiveness and refine his game in a less demanding system than Koetter's.
But the NFL waits for no man, and Winston is quickly being eclipsed by the next wave of exciting, young quarterbacks.
Yes, the Koetter experiment was an unmitigated disaster, but Winston was held up as a potentially transcendent talent. The next head coach the Bucs hire will be tasked with revitalizing the QB, but based on his play this season, it will be an uphill battle.
